Former Oracle Channel Chief Joining Microsoft

Doug Kennedy, Oracle's top channel chief until last week, has joined Microsoft as vice president of the company's Dynamics Partners organization. Dynamics is Microsoft's line of ERP, financial and CRM applications.

Just last Thursday Oracle disclosed that Kennedy, who ran Oracle's worldwide alliances and channels organization, had departed the company. Oracle quickly named Judson Althoff, vice president of global platform and distribution sales and the head of Oracle's Technology Channel Program Office, to fill Kennedy's post.

A Microsoft spokeswoman said that with the appointment of Kennedy, Steve Malme will step down from his role as acting partner lead in the Dynamics organization.

Oracle is still trying to fill the vacancy created earlier this year by the departure of Rauline Ochs, senior vice president of North American alliances and channels, for a job with Seattle-based Safeco.